SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — More than a week after he was supposed to return to the field, Ian Stewart still isn’t close to playing.

Saturday will mark two weeks since Stewart sustained a sprained MCL in his right knee during a collision with Carlos Gonzalez in the Rockies’ Cactus League opener at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.

The original prognosis called for him to miss five or six days, maybe a week. But Stewart still doesn’t know when he might get on the field. All he knows is that his right knee hurts when he runs.

The ball made a different sound off Todd Helton’s bat Thursday. He doubled twice. It didn’t take manager Jim Tracy to know what it reminded him of in his recent past when asked by reporters after the game.

“I remember seeing that a lot in 2009,” Tracy said after the Rockies’ 9-8 win over the Brewers in Maryvale. “The two doubles he hit in the gap and over somebody’s head, that’s what we’ve grown accustomed to from him.”

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Part of the charm of early spring is the absence of white knuckles. There’s little stress. So it lends itself to topics off the beaten path. Like bare knuckles.

Back in high school, I watched WWF, finding it a guilty pleasure. Yes, my brother and I knew it was scripted. But it didn’t make it any less funny or entertaining. One of my favorite live sporting event memories is seeing Hulk Hogan wrestle at old Big Mac in Denver. Not because of Hulk, but because of the brawl in the stands.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Rockies’ third baseman Ian Stewart has no limp, his right knee progressing. The third baseman said today he hopes to play this weekend or early next week.

“It’s feeling better,” Stewart said. “I just have to get it comfortable when I am doing baseball activities.”

Stewart hurt his knee last Saturday in a collision with left-fielder Carlos Gonzalez as they chased a foul popup. Gonzalez hurt his right shin and left ankle. Stewart performed slight agility drills Tuesday with a trainer rolling groundballs at him. He will be working on bunting today as he inches back toward game action.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Chris Iannetta prides himself on his patience as a hitter. In fact, the Rockies at times have tried to get him to be more aggressive at the plate.

He won’t have a choice this year.

Iannetta, who opened last season at Milwaukee in the six hole, will be in the No. 8 spot in the lineup throughout the season. At least that’s the plan. For Iannetta, the move will prompt a change in his approach at the plate.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Rockies selected Ian Stewart with the 10th pick in the 2003 June draft. And then, 25 rounds later, they got around to drafting Stewart’s high school teammate, Cole Garner.

Eight years later, Stewart is an established major leaguer. Garner? He’s still waiting for that magic moment when he can put on a big-league uniform.

At 26, Garner is approaching the crossroads of his pro career. Only four players on the Rockies’ 40-man roster were drafted before him, and all four — Todd Helton, Aaron Cook, Ryan Spilborghs and Stewart — have put in considerable service time in the big leagues.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Rockies manager Jim Tracy touching base on various topics after Saturday’s 8-7, 10-inning win over the Diamondbacks in the first-ever game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick …

Summing up the win: “I was extremely pleased with what happened offensively. Our two-strike approach was terrific, absolutely terrific. … We were very aggressive. We were everything that I want to see this team be as we move forward.’’

On Ubaldo Jimenez’s two scoreless innings: “The thing I was the most impressed with was how clean he was and how smooth his delivery was and how he was driving the ball down in the strike zone. He really, really looked good. I didn’t see him at any time during the course of his two innings ever try to overthrow a pitch, which brings him out of his delivery. He looked very, very smooth. … What I saw today was a guy who was very mindful of what he needs to do to be as good as he was a year ago.’’

This is no tweak or tuck. That’s what Ian Stewart would call it if he were moving two or three inches farther away from the plate.

But a foot? That’s borderline reinventing yourself.

That’s what it has come to for Stewart. The Rockies have grown weary of his high strikeout totals and penchant for trying to pull every pitch. So new hitting coach Carney Lansford, who worked with Stewart in Triple A in 2007, has backed him 12 inches farther away from the plate.

The Rockies and Ian Stewart avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal.

Third baseman Ian Stewart’s new contract reveals his potential and problem. Arbitration-eligible for the first time, Stewart jumped from roughly 400,000 to $2.2875 million, The Denver Post has learned.

Stewart is worth the money as a power hitter. But once a player starts making real cash, production replaces patience. General manager Dan O’Dowd has said that Stewart must have a sense of urgency this season, that the window of opportunity is closing to prove he’s an everyday, core player.

Stewart, 25, hit .256 in 441 plate appearances last year. He finished with 18 home runs and 61 RBIs, but an obligue injury sabotaged his final numbers. On pace to set career highs, Stewart notched only 15 at-bats in September and October, eventually losing time to Melvin Mora.

Stewart has worked with new hitting instructor Carney Lansford this offseason. The goal is for to Stewart to drive the ball more consistently to the opposite field. The slugger has also decided to back off the plate, which should help reduce the number of strikeouts on inside pitches.

The former first-round draft-choice can make an additional $12,500 if he reaches 502 plate appearances and $25,000 each for 500 and 600 plate appearances.

In a winter that has included $256 million in contracts for free agents and long-term deals for stars Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, pitcher Felipe Paulino has remained safely under the radar. The Rockies acquired him from Houston in exchange for Clint Barmes. Barmes will likely be the Astros’ starting shortstop, his future uncertain Colorado given the plethora of second basemen.

Paulino is a bit of an X-factor as well, but the journey began in earnest today as he avoided arbitration on a one-year, $790,000 deal. That leaves Ian Stewart and Jason Hammel as the Rockies’ remaining arb-eligible players.

Paulino will come to spring training as a starter after prepping in the Dominican Republic with pitchers Esmil Rogers, Ubaldo Jimenez, Franklin Morales and Matt Daley. But Paulino could also land in the bullpen as a long reliever if he can’t crack the top five. The Rockies love his arm — he throws in the mid ’90s when healthy. The issue will be whether his arm and shoulder will respond to relief work, something that should be clarified in spring training.

Barmes avoided arbitration with a one-year, $3.925 million contract with the Astros.

Jason Giambi reacts after striking out against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.

All signs are pointing to Jason Giambi’s second season with the Rockies being finished with a week remaining in the season.

Giambi strained his left biceps tendon while swinging in the Rockies’ final at-bat in Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the Giants. He’s scheduled for an MRI, but Rockies manager Jim Tracy said he’s pretty certain that Giambi won’t play again in 2010.

“I dont like his chance of seeng any more action,” said Rockies manager Jim Tracy. “He’s sore today, really sore, and the prospects of him getting an opportunity to take another at-bat between now and Sunday, I wouldn’t think they’re very good.”

Giambi is hitting .244 with six home runs and 35 RBIs in 176 at-bats. He’s tied for the team lead with Seth Smith with two pinch-hit homers.

Other injury news: Smith returned to the team after a nasty bout with the flu, one that required I.V. treatments. Ian Stewart, meanwhile, is not at the ballpark after being struck with the same flu bug.

Great. Right when they need all hands on deck, the flu bug has invaded the Rockies’ clubhouse.

First, Melvin Mora has to come out of Friday’s game with a 102-degree temperature. Then Seth Smith received I.V. treatment for flu-like symptoms. And now Ian Stewart, who was going to give Mora a breather today, also is down with the flu.

With Stewart unavailable, Jim Tracy has opted to use Jonathan Herrera at third base. Herrera is in the two hole behind Eric Young, Jr. Here’s a look at the Rockies’ lineup for today’s game vs. the Giants at Coors Field:

Troy Tulowitzki has been on a nearly-unheard of tear through September. (AP)

PHOENIX — Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully said he’s never seen any Dodger enjoy the type of stretch that Troy Tulowitzki has experienced.

Maybe Ron Cey for a few games. Maybe Pedro Guerrero for 10 days. But nothing like Tulo’s last two weeks. Major League Baseball agreed, naming Tulowitzki the NL Player of the Week for the second straight week. No Rockies’ player has ever pulled this off. Then again, no player had ever hit 14 home runs in 15 games other than Barry Bonds and Albert Belle in modern history.

After a line drive during batting practice knocked him to the ground (above) and sent him to the hospital Tuesday, Huston Street was back at Coors Field today. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Huston Street is back at Coors Field, but he’s not about to play catch, much less pitch in tonight’s game.

“He’s doing fine, but it goes without saying he’s very sore,’’ said Rockies manager Jim Tracy.

Street was the victim of the leader in the clubhouse for the Rockies’ fluke injury of the year. He was drilled in the pelvic region by a line drive during Tuesday’s batting practice, leading to an ambulance ride to Rose Medical Center.

He was diagnosed with a contusion to the lower right abdomen and was released Tuesday night. He returned to the ballpark today, but spent the day being examined and doing exercises in the therapy pool.

Rockies trainer Keith Dugger said Street could be available to pitch as early as Thursday. Until he returns, Tracy will employ the same closer-by-committee that he used in the first 10 weeks of the season as Street struggled to return from shoulder inflammation.

Matt Belisle figures to close, but Joe Beimel could get the call in the ninth if it involves a left-handed hitter.

“It’s obviously something else we’re dealing with this year that you don’t anticipate,’’ said Tracy. “But when it comes your way, you’ve got to deal with it. It’s that simple.’’

Rockies closer Huston Street, who was taken to Rose Medical Center in an ambulance after being struck by a line drive during batting practice, escaped serious injury and is resting at his Denver-area home.

Street sustained what doctors called a right abdominal contusion when he was struck by a line drive off the bat of Ian Stewart. He’s being listed as day-to-day.

It was an eerie scene before the game as batting practice was held up as paramedics tended to Street down the right-field line at Coors Field after he was struck in the pelvic area and immediately fell to the ground. He tried to get to his feet at one point but fainted.

Street’s teammates and members of the coaching staff and front office, including general manager Dan O’Dowd, surrounded Street before he was loaded into an ambulance and taken to Rose Medical Center.

Dan O'Dowd, Jim Tracy and Rockies players look on as pitcher Huston Street is wheeled off the field to an ambulance and transported to the hospital after getting hit by a line drive Tuesday at Coors Field. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Rockies closer Huston Street was taken to Rose Medical Center in an ambulance moments ago after being struck in the lower right abdomen by a batting-practice line drive.

Doctors were on call at Rose to examine Street after he fainted from the pain, according to Rockies trainer Keith Dugger. The Rockies are expecting word on Street’s condition within the hour, but it’s all but certain that he won’t be available for tonight’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Street was in the outfield down the right-field line when he was struck in the pelvic area by a drive off the bat off Ian Stewart.

“He had some lower stomach issues and some pain going down his right leg, but everything else is fine,” said Dugger. “Until we get the report, I have no idea (of Street’s condition).”

Street went down after being struck by the ball. He tried to get to his feet, but fainted from the pain. An ambulance arrived moments later and Street’s teammates and team officials hovered over him.

“I think his body kind of went into shock,” said Dugger. “The thing that was kind of alarming is he had ringing in his ears. Sometimes it’s just a sign of shock.”

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.